Liquid and air supply system



Dec. 1, 1942. c. P. FULLER 2,303,627

LIQUID AND .un SUPPLY s'YsTEM Y Filed Jan. 27. 1,940 2 sheets-sheet 1 x.fr",

'/3 s I s i995; C'f/Au/vcfr f. FULLER ,l

ATTORNEY De.1,1942. a R FULLER '2,303,627

LIQUID AND AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM Filed Jan. 27. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.- C'HA u/vcey f? F'UL se ATTORNEY.

WATER fn-1.

/ly WELL Patented Der..` l, 1942 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE LIQUIDAND AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM Chauncey P. Fuller, Berkeley, Calif.

Application January 27, 1940, Serial No. 315,966

14 claims.'

This invention relates to automatic control means for centrifugal andinjector type deep well pumps and means for automatically supplying airinto hydro-pneumatic pressure tanks used in conjunction with suchsystems, and constitutes improvements on the subjectA matter of LettersPatent Number 2,286,613 issued June 16, 1942, on an application led byme.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of means wherebythe ow of water through the pump discharge conduit shall be sorestricted as to maintain the requisite pressures within the pumpingmeans in response to and .conformity with `a varying lift.-

Another object of this invention is to so restrict the flow of waterthrough the pump discharge conduit that the water level in the wellshall not be lowered beyond 4a practical value of the lift.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means forpreventing loss of prime, in such pumping plants by leakage of waterinto the well.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for supplyingair into hydropneumatic storage tanks where the same are used inconjunction with pumping plants of the class referred to above.

Other objects 'of the invention will become more apparent as thisspecification proceeds and the novelty hereof will beparticularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a schematic` view, partly-in section, showing the applicationof my invention to an injector type deep well pumping plant,

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the application of the invention to apumping plant utilizing a centrifugal or turbine type pump,

l such as that illustrated in Fig. 1. The numeral 2 indicates acentrifugal' or any other suitable type of pump, 'driven by a primemover, such as van. electric motor 3, lifting water out of `a deep wellbyA virtue of the lifting action of a hydraulic injector 4, anddeliveringythe watery into a hydro-pneumatic pressure storage tank 5through conduit 6, or 'to any other point of consumption, through pipe1.

pump 2 at the suction region 8 at a pressure whichmay he greater or lessthan atmosphere,

and is delivered at a pressure greater than at.

chamber I3. Water from the well flows through foot valve I4 into chamberI3 and mixes with the high velocity Water from nozzle I2. In this mixedcondition it passes through the throat I5 of the Venturi tube I6, inwhich the velocity la energy is converted into pressure energy, and thewater then emerges in pipe I1 under a pressure suflicient to lift thewater therein to such a heightfthat it will ow into the pump 2 at 8under some absolute pressure.

l When the absolute pressure at 8 is not substantially greater than thevapor pressure of the water the pump will break prime and cease tofunction. VTherefore it is necessary that pressure at 9 be maintained atsuch a value that injector I shall have suiicient energy to maintain therequired pressure at 8; and the value of the pressure required at 9 is afunction of the lift L (see dotted lines, Fig. 1).

In the maintenance of prime it is, as hereinbefore stated, an object ofthis invention to so restrict the ow of Water through conduit I0 as tomaintain the requisite pressures at 8 and 9 v in response to andconformity with a Varying lift L (see Fig. 1).

This is effected through the provision of the device illustrated to bestadvantage in Figs. 3 and 4'. A hollow body .28 has an inlet opening 2|,threaded for connection to the pump d ischarge conduit I8, and an outletopening 22,

40 threaded for ctinnection to the distribution pipe 6. The body 20 isdivided into the upper chambers 25 and 26 and a lower chamber 21 by thetransversely..extending partition 28, having a medially disposed ridge29 arranged at right angles to the inlet and outlet ports 2I and 22 (seeFig. 3). The ridge 29 in partition 28 is depressed, as at 30 (see Fig.4), in approximately the form of a circular arc to provide aconstrictablepassageway` between chambers 25 and Anopening 35 in the topof body 20, directly ,4

above ridge 29 in the partition 2 8, is closed by a flexible imperviousdiaphragm 36, clam between the top of the body and a. cup -3 In such apumping plant` water enters the cured thereto in any conventional mannewater.

rst mentioned diaphragm 36, defines an air-tight chamber 48 within thecup 31. An anvil 4I within chamber 48 presents a lower spheroidalsurface against diaphragm 36 and an upper spheroidaly surface againstdiaphragm 38. Diaphragm 36, when depressed by anvil 4I, in a mannerwhich will hereinafter become apparent, constitutes, in a sense, a valvewith respect to which the depression 30 in the ridge 28 of partition 28,becomes a valve seat, and this combination of elements constitutes meansfor constricting the water stream owing from conduit I8 to conduit 6 toregulate the quantity of liquid diverted through line II and jet I2 andthus control the priming of the pump. A chamber 42, defined by diaphragm38 and the cover 38 communicates with atmosphere through port 43 in thelatter.

Communication between chamber 21 `and pipe I1, or the body of pump 2 ata point relatively very close to 8, as regards the usual water level inthe well, is establlshedthrough nipple 45, formed on the bottom of body28, and the conduit 46 (see Fig. l).

Chambers 21 and 48 are also in communication through the medium of anexternally disposed conduit 41, the lower end of which terminates in achamber 48 in nipple 45, below'a valve seat 48 formed in the bottom ofbody 28.

` It is obvious that, if desired, the conduit 41 may Achamber 21 and is'adapted to drop into the seat i through the nipple 45.

Chamber 21 is also in communication with chamber 25 through therestricted aperture 5I and with chamber 26 through a restricted aperture52, or, if preferred,'a conventional one-way check valvevmeans (notshown) in the partition 28 (see Fig. 3); and has-an air intake throughpassageway 53 wherein there is disposed a conventional ball check 54 oran equivalent nonreturn mechanism to prevent outow of air or 'I'heoperation of Fig. 1 is as follows:

The pump 2,` at the moment it is started, creates a definite impulse ofvacuum or low,v abmy invention asutilized in `v the apparatus formingthe subject-matter of' solute pressure at 8 because of the inertia of Athe water at rest in pipe I1. This impulse, transmitted through conduit46 to chamber 21,

draws water out of the chamber 21 to satisfy.

8 in the pump 2 is less. Water pressure in chambers 25 and 26 at thetank, the upper portion of tank 5 contains air under pressure sulcientto deliver water through opening 56 to the point of consumption when thepump 2 is idle. Some of this air becomes dissolved in the water ordissipated by leakage or other causes, .and must be replenished toprevent tank 5 from becoming water logged.- Thus the fourth object of myinvention, namely, to replenish and maintain automatically a sumcientsupply of air in tank 5 is accomplished.

When the pressure at area 8 in pump 2, either at the moment when pump 2starts or at anyl time while the pump is operating, is at a value lessthan atmospheric, this pressure, transmitted through the conduits 46 and41; creates a partial vacuum in chamber 46. Atmospheric pressure,

communicated through the aperture 43 to th'e chamber 42 therefore setsup a force to depress diaphragm 38 `'and consequently move anvil 4Idownwardly against diaphragm 36. This force will be greater as theabsolute pressurev atarea same time sets up a force to raise diaphragm36 and anvil 4I, but in my invention, the effective operating area'of,diaphragm 38 is made -to be substantially greater than the effectiveoperating area of diaphragm 36, so that a given value of the absolutepressure at area 8 in pump 2 will overcome a given greater value of th'emean absolute pressure beneath diaphragm 36 and thus cause diaphragm 36to be depressed toward or against the ridge 28 of partition 28 settingit in the depression 38 therein, as a valve against a valve seat. toconstrict the passageway for the ow of waterfrom chamber 25 to chamber26.

I have found that by properly proportioning the areas of diaphragms 36and 38, theilow across the depression 38 in ridge 26, from chamber 25 tochamber 26, can be' so governed as to,

assure an absolute pressure at area 8 in pump 2 substantially above thevapor pressure. of th'e water, and thus accomplish the rst and secondobjects of this invention, namely, to restrict the flow of waterthroughpump discharge conduit I8 so as to'maintain the requisitepressures in .areas 8 and 8 of the pumping system in reout of'chamber 21through conduit 46 is replaced f with air ilowirm through passageway 53,the buoyant valve 58 drops to its seat 43 and .thus prevents the ow ofair from chamber 21 into conduit 46. Chamber 21 is, at this point,substantially lled with air at apressure on the order of atmospheric.

When the pump 2 sponse to and conformityI with varying lift L, and toprevent the lowering of the water level in the well beyond a practicalvalue of lift L, rel spectively, while at the same time permitting thesystem to' deliver to the conduit 6 the maximum quantity of which it iscapable under the mo`- mentarily lvariable condition. l

When the pumping plant is standing idle, the hydrostatic pressureresiding in tank 5 orvin the distribution system, as the case may be, istransmitted alike and equally to all parts of the apparatus, mutuallycommunicated from chamber 26 through chamber 25, and the pump dischargeconduit I8, thence through area 8 and the is operating normally the '75conduit I1 to the hydraulic injector 4 and into' conduits II and area 8in thepump 2, and from th'e conduit I1 through conduit 46 to chamberallparts of the system between Il) and i4 shall be primed with water, solong as any water whatever remains in the distribution system, thusvaccomplishing the third object of my invention.

Itis obvious from the foregoing that in attaining the fourth object ofmy invention, namely, the replenishment and maintenance of a suflicientsupply of air in tank 5, the elements disposed above the opening 35 inbody2li, and this includes the conduit 41, serve no function. In factthe `device would accomplish the desired and stated result were opening35 rigidly sealed.

Likewise chamber 21, the buoyant valve 50, its seat 49, the chamber 48in nipple 45, and the restricted ports and'52 and the air intakepassageway 53 with its associated check valve 54, are in no way .relatedtothe rst and second objects of my invention, namely, the restriction ofthe iiow of water through pump discharge I0 to maintain requisitepressures in areas 8 and 9 of pump 2 in response to and conformity withvarying lift L and to prevent the lowering of the water level in thewell,beyond a practicall value of lift L, respectively.

Therefore, within the scope of my invention it would be possible t0construct an apparatus including an intake port 2|, a discharge port 22,

partition 28 having a ridge 23 between the ports 2| and 22 to constitutea dam therefor, a depression v3l) in the ridge 29, the, diaphragms 36and and described are to be deemed as examples .only

and not denoting a limited use of the device.

While none is shown, it will be understood that there may be utilizedwith tank 5 any conventional means of stopping operation of the systemwhen the desired pressure of water is reached in the tank, such as apressure or float actuated switch controlling the, circuit to motor 3..Likewise, any one of several means may be employed to avoid buildingexcess air volume in tank 5, such as a manuallyv operated air ventingcock 51 (see Fig. 2).

It should also be apparent that the invention may take other forms thanthat shown and described without departing from the spirit thereof,Therefore protection is desired in accordance with the full scope of theappended claims.

'I'he invention claimed is:

1. In a water system including a water supply conduit and al pump fordelivering water from a source of supply through the conduit to a pointof consumption, means for maintaining requisite depressing the diaphragmconstricty the passageway between the said chambers.

2. In a water system including a water supply conduit and a pump fordeliveringwater from a source of supply through the. conduit to a point.of consumption, means for maintaining requisite absolute suctionpressure in, the pump, compris- 38, an anvil 4| in the chamber definedtherebetween, a chamber 42 above the diaphragm 38, an aperture toatmosphere therefroma conduit 41 establishing communication between thechamber d8 defined by the two diaphragms and the conduit 46, 'toaccomplish only the above stated iirst and second objectsv of th'einvention.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the attainment of the thirdobject of the invention would be inherent in either of the two abovenoted combinations.

Fig. 2 illustrates the application of my invention to a pumping plantconsisting of a-centrifugal or turbine type pump 2 driven by prime mover3 to lift water by so-called suction out of a relatively shallow wellthrough a lift L substantially less than the height of a column of waterequivalent to barometer, and to deliver the water through discharge pipelli to the point of consumption similarly to Fig. 1. If the pump 2 isallowed to take water out of the well faster than water flows from theground nto the well, lift L will eventually reach such a value that theabsolute pressure at 8 will approach the vapor pressure of the water andthe pump will break prime and cease to function.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the operation of the deviceforming the subjectmatter hereof, will function when used with a systemsuch as that illustrated in Fig. 2 as it does in the system shown inFig. l. Moreover, the device may be used with other pumping a hollowbody member having therein a pair of chambers,'said chambers being incommunication `with the supply conduit as intake and output chambers, a.constrictable passageway between said intake and output chambers, and aconduit and a pump for delivering water from av l source of supplythrough the conduit to a point ing systems, hence the two uses hereinillustrated of consumption, means for maintaining requisite absolutesuction pressure in the pump, comprising a hollow body member havingtherein a pair of chambers, said chambers being in communicationnwiththe supply conduit as intake and output chambers, a. constrictablepassageway between said intake and output chambers, a diaphragm injuxtaposition to and in part dening said passageway, and means operatedby a lowering of the absolute suction pressure in the pump from therequisite value for depressing the diaphragm to constrict the passagewaybetween the said chambers. v

4. In a water system including a water supplyconduit 'and a pump fordelivering Water from a source of supply through the conduit to a pointof consumption, means for maintaining requisite absolute suctionpressures in the pump, comfining said passageway, a cup over the saiddiaphragm, a cover for said cup, va. second diaphragm disposed betweensaid `cup and vsaid cover, y'said second named diaphragm with the 4 erstdiaphragm and said cup defining u. cnamber, an anvil within the chamber,said second named diaphragm and said cov er dening a.

fourth chamber, the fourth chamber having an aperture to atmosphere, andmeans establishing communication between the aforesaid diaphragms andthe said pump.

the chamber defined by 5; In a water system including a pressure storagetank, a water supply conduit, and a pump for delivering water from asource of'supply through the conduit to the storage tank, means incommunication with the waterA supply conduit for successively trappingquantities of air drawn from atmosphere and introducing it into thewater stream passing to said storage tank, comprising a hollow bodymember divided into a lower chamber and a pair of upper-chambers, theupper chambers being in communication with the water supply conduit,there being a passagel' way between the two upper chambers tocharacterize the same as intake and` output chambers, i

restricted passageways between the lower and intake and output chambers,respectively, a discharge port in the bottom of the lower chamber,

communicating with the water supply conduit,

prisinga hollow body member divided into a ldwer chamber and a pair ofupper chambers, the upper chambers being in communication with the watersupply conduit, there being a passageway between the two upper chambersto characterize thesame as intake and output-chambers, a restrictedwater passageway between the intake chamber and the lower chamber, a restricted air vent from the lower chamber to the output chamber, adischarge port in the bottom of the lower chamber, communicating withthe water supply conduit, buoyant valve means for said discharge port,said lower chamber also having an air intake communicating with.atmosphere, and one-way check valve means in said air intake.

'1. In a water system includingya pressure storage tank, a water supplyconduit, a pump for delivering water from a source o f supply throughthe conduit to the` storage tank, means in communication with the watersupply` conduit for successively trapping quantities of air drawn-,fromatmosphere and introducing it into the water stream passing to saidstorage tank, comprising a hollow body memberdivided into ber having anair intake communicating with atmosphere, and one-way check valve means`in said air intake.

8. In a water system including a pressure storagetank, a water supplyconduit, and a pump for delivering water from a source of supply throughthe conduit to' the storage tank.

means in communication with the water supply conduit forsuccessivelytrapping quantities ot- -air drawn from atmosphere andintroducing it into the water stream passing to said storage tank,comprising a hollow body member divided into a lower chamber and a pairof upper chambers, the upper chambers being in communication with thewater supply conduit, there being a passageway betweenv the two upperchambers to characterizethe same as intake and output chambers, arestricted water passageway between the intake chamber and the lowerchamber, a restricted air vent from the lower chamber to theoutputchamber, a discharge port in the bottom of the lower chamber,communicating with the water supply` conduit. buoyant valve means forsaid discharge port, meansv for returning the water discharged from the-lower chamber .to the suction region of the pump, said lower -air drawnfrom atmosphere and introducing it into the water stream passing to saidstorage tank, comprising a hollow body member divided into a lowerchamber and a pair 'of upper chambers, the upper chambers being incommunication with the water supply conduit, there being -a passagewaybetween the two upper chambers to characterize the same as intake andoutput chambers, a restricted water passageway between the intakechamber and said lower chambenan 'air vent frcm the lower chamber to theoutput chamber, a discharge port in the bottom of the lower chamber ofsubstantially greater area than `the restricted passageway between theintake a lower chamber a d a pair of upper chambers,

ing with thewater supply conduit, buoyant valve means for said dischargeport, said lower cham- 'I5 chamber and the lower chamber, said dischargeport in the bottom of the lower chamberl communicating with the watersupply conduit, buoyant valve means` for said discharge port, said lowerchamber also having an air intake communicating with atmosphere, andone-way check valve means in said air intake.

10.'In a water system including a water sup- -conduit as intake andoutput chambers, there.

being a passageway between the two upper chambers, a restricted waterpassageway between the intake chamber and the lower chamber, arestricted air vent from the lower chamber to -the output chamber, adischarge port in the bottom of the lower chamber, buoyant valve meansfor said discharge port, a return conduit for water discharged from thelower chamber in communication with the suctionregion of the pump, saidlower chamber also having an air' atmosphere, a one-way check valvemeans in said intake communicating with atmosphere, a one- 'in spacedrelation to the'rst diaphragm, there being a chamber defined between thesaid diaphragms, an anvil in the chamber between the two diaphragms, anda conduit establishing communication between the chamber between the twodiaphragms and the water return conduit.

11. In a water system including a water supply conduit and a pump fordelivering water from a source of supply through a conduit to the pointof consumption, means for maintaining requisite absolute suctionpressures in the way check valve means in said air intake, ,a

pump and for supplying quantities-of air into the water stream in saidconduit, comprising: a hollow body member divided into a lower chamberand a pair'of upper chambers, the upper chambers being in communicationwith the water supply conduit as intake and output chambers, there beinga passageway between the two upper chambers, a restricted waterpassageway between the intake chamber and the lower chamber, an air ventfrom Vthe lower chamber to the output chamber, a discharge port in thebottom of the lower chamber, buoyant valve means for said dischargeport, a return conduit for water discharged from the lower chamber incommunication with the suction region of the pump, said lower chamberalso having an air intake communicating with atmosphere, a one-way checkvalve means in said air intake, a diaphragm in juxtaposition to and inpart defining the passageway between the intake and output chambers, asecond diaphragm above and in spaced relation to the rst diaphragm,there being a chamber deilned between the said diaphragms, an anvil inthe chamber between the two diaphragms, a conduit establishingcommunication between the chamber between the two diaphragms and thewater return conduit, a cover defining an air chamber above the upperdiaphragm, and a port in said cover opening to atmosphere.

l2. In a water system including a water supply conduit and a pump fordelivering water from a source of supply through a conduit to the pointof consumption, means for maintaining requisite absolute suctionpressures in the pump and for supplying quantities of air into the waterstream -air vent from the lower chamber to the output chamber, adischarge port in the bottom of the lower chamber, buoyantvalve meansfor said discharge port, a return conduit for water discharged from thelower chamber in communication with the suction region of the pump, saidlower chamber also having an air intake communicating with -air intake,a diaphragm in juxtaposition to and in part dening the passagewaybetween the intake and output chambers, and means responsive to thelowering of the absolute suction pressure in the pump operable to movethe said diaphragm to constrict the passageway between the saidchambers.v

13. In a water system including a water supply conduit and-a pump fordelivering water from a source of supply through a conduit to the pointof consumption, means for maintaining requisite absolute suctionpressures in the pump and for supplying quantities of air into the waterstream in said conduit, comprising: a hollow body member divided into alower chamber and a pair of upper chambers, the upper chambers being incommunication with the water supply conduit as intake and outputchambers, there being a passageway between the two upper chambers, arestricted water passageway between the intake chamber and the lowerchamber, an air vent from the lower chamber to the output chamber, adischarge port in the bottom of the lower chamber, buoyant valve meansfor said discharge port,

a return conduit for water discharged from the lower chamber incommunication with the suction region of the pump, said lower chamberalso having an air intake communicating with atmosphere, a one-way checkvalve means in said air intake, yieldable means in juxtaposition to andin part defining the passageway between the intake -and output chambers,and means operable upona lowering of the absolute suction pressure inthe pump for moving the said yieldable means to constrict the passagewaybetween the said chambers.

14. In a water system including a water supply conduit and a pump fordelivering water from a source of supply through a conduit to the pointof consumption, means for maintaining requisite absolute suctionpressures in the pump and for sup plying quantities of air into thewater stream in said conduit, comprising: a hollow body member dividedinto a lower chamber and a-pair of upper chambers, the upper chambersbeing in communication with the water supply conduit as intake andoutput chambers, there being a passageway between the two upperchambers, a restricted water passageway between the intake chamber andthe lower chamber, a restricted air vent'from the lower chamber to theoutput chamber, a discharge port in the bottom of the lower chamber,

buoyant valve means for said discharge port, a`

return conduit `for water discharged from the lower chamber incommunication with the suction region of the pump, said lower chamberalso having an air intake communicating with' atmosphere, a one-waycheck valve means in said air intake, a movable member in juxtapositionto and in part dening the passageway between the intake and outputchambers, and means operable upon a lowering of the absolute suctionpressure in the pump for moving the said yieldable means to constrictthe passageway between the said chambers.

CHAUNCEY P. FULLER.

